Device for propagation of clams



April 1o, 1926. 1,665,996

R. c. ADAMS ET Ax.

DEVICE FOR PROPAGATION 0F CLAMS Filed April '7. 1926 sra-TES,"

nire

RALPHl o. 'ADAMS Ann 'roNAEIJIAN,` minnaars, onsoMnns ielorirr-, JERSEY, As..

sIGNoRs To ADAMS Enswon'rn BIvALvEco., oni/roivTcLAIR,,' nnvv{.Tniasnv.` I

l v .y Application mea April 7,

period thereof, `on a naturall submerged bed.,v

, The principal object of the invention `is to provide a suitable enclosure frame which ,is adapted to be placed in tide water with the sides of the frame ofv a sufhcientfheight to extend either level with the surrounding i water, above or below the level thereof, so that matured clams may be placed within said enclosure immediately prior to lthe 'spawning season, to protect thel embryo clams during the shell acquiring. period, from their natural enemies and` from the f natural wash of tide and undercurrents during the propagation period.

v Anotheryobject of the invention is to 'provide an anchored enclosure in conjunction with natural beds under tide water, for the protection of embryo clams during their shell acquiring period, and until they have matured sufficiently to permit transplanting to larger natural beds.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the 'following detail description, land in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a cross section thru the protective closure frame, submerged and anchored to a natural bed. f l

Figure 2 isa longitudinal section through the submerged closure frame showing the screened openings therein. v

f Referring more particularly to the drawing, the invention comprises a frame 10 which may be of any suitable size and configuration', and may be constructed of wood, or sheet metal. A suitable stake 11 is provided on each of the ends 12 of the frame .10.'

Each of said stakes 11 extends below the bottom edge 13 ofthe frame 10, to provide means for anchoring the isaid frameto va `natural bed surface under tide water, by driving the lower ends 14=`of the stakes 11 into the bed 15.V The longitudinal sidewalls 16 of' the frame 10 are each provided with an opening 17 adjacent the bottom edge 13 of theAA said frame and saidy openings are covered with a suitable mesh screen,`burlap,

' natural 'beds for further or'. analogousk `material v18, .to xpermit water and naturaly foods to 'enter the Aenclosure and provide a proper change of water and food for the clams. The 'screens 18 are further adapted to prevent theentrance i-nto the enclosure of elements destructive to embryo clams, such as star-sh7 snails, etc.

In order to retainv the spats "which are developed'by the matured clams vplaced in the enclosure, it may also be desired to place/a screen covering 19, such as'wire mesh, burlap,-and the like, over the top of the 'frame.10, and secure the same to the top edges 20 of the frame 10, so that the clam spats will vnot bewashed away and scattered when floating about4 on the surface lof the water before settling-to the bottom.v This method willretain the clam spats in they partially or entirely submerged enclosure frame, and permit vthe said vclam spats to acquire a shell after settling to thebottom and while protected from their natural enemies, and the wash .of the tide andundercurrents thereof.

In carrying out the process herein` described, a suitable spot is first selected, then the bottom surface thereof is Vcleared by` means of suitable rakes or the like, `of any obstacles or 'natural clam enemies. yA pro. tective enclosure Vframe of appropriate size and material is then submerged and anchored at the point selected. Just prior to which represents a naturali-bed and allowed `v to remain therein until the spawning season is over. Upon the development of the resultant embryo clams to astage where they, can be handled, they 'are removed vto larger y vdevelopment to maturity. V f

Whilev we have shown and described means for clam propagation, it Iis to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact `features as herein set forth, but consider ourselves at libertyto' make such changes and modications, as fairlyy fall within the scope of the appended claim. What we claim is:- In'the propagation of clams, a protecting structure for a natural bed comprising la plurality of stakes driven intothe' bed in uprightspositions andv spaced a substantial distancey apartsubstantially equal' .to the length ofthe bed, one at each end ofthe bed, end 'boards secured to and'adjacent the outer faces of said stakes, side boards arranged in upright positions and secured to the ends of the end boards, thereby causing a rectangular enclosure to be constructed, a Wire fabric top having depending side and end parts tting down over the enclosure,

the side boards havingopenings down and i relatively close to the sides of the bed, and

10 wire fabric closing said openings, said Wire fabric covered openings and the Wire fabric top, acting to permit Water and natural food to easily enter the enclosure, Without allowing the clam spats to be Washed away or scattered. y c

In testimony `whereof We aliix our signatures.

RALPH o. ADAMS. JONATHAN T. ADAMS. 

